Sometimes, it’s hard to tell the difference between dreams and reality, because some of our dreams make logical sense. But somehow, we still come to admit that it’s not the reality, right? We can feel our environment, move our body, talk with people we know, as we normally do, but our mind knows it’s just a dream, and we will wake up later from it. It’s simple, it always works like this, even for me.

So why I couldn't stop thinking that I was stuck in some horrible nightmare? I felt like the whole situation with Baekhyun being my fake boyfriend wasn't real and I just simply couldn't wake up.

But in fact I didn’t sleep at all after returning home. I spent whole night looking at ceiling, wondering what his “don’t regret it later” statement meant. And now it is 6 in the freaking morning, and I was still awake in bed, wondering if a few pinches would shake me back to reality, despite already knowing deep inside that I wasn’t dreaming.

Lying about having a boyfriend just to make new friends, meeting Baekhyun who wasn’t himself at all, making a deal with him…all that was real and I had to accept it. I had to accept my messed up reality. And I had to face my problems today, even if staying in my bed was more tempting than going to school. Just thinking about meeting Chung Ae and Ga In made me sick because I still didn’t have a picture with my boyfriend and I still wasn’t sure if Baekhyun would really play along with my lie.

“Eun Jin,” my mother’s voice startled me a little. I sat on my bed and saw her standing near my door. I didn’t even noticed when she had opened it. Already feeling exhausted because of the lack of sleep, I rubbed my eyes and looked at her while yawning. She was already dressed, ready to go off to work, “Your breakfast is ready.” Seconds later, I was alone in my room again. I sighed, prepared to eat alone as I always did. As long as I have remembered, my parents haven’t accompanied me for meals. Work was always their first priority, and because of that, we’ve had to move at least five times. It was hard to make true friends in a constantly changing environment, but I kept quiet about it because, in some roundabout way, they were doing it for me. At least, I tried to understand that point.

After changing from my pajamas into the school uniform I decided to go straight to school without breakfast. I didn’t even feel like eating anything because of the stress of today’s upcoming confrontation. Simply thinking about coming clean to my friends in school was more nerve-wracking than I imagined. What should I tell them about my lie? And what about Baekhyun? He’s agreed to pretend (there’s no way I heard him wrong) but he left without clarifying any specifics, leaving me confused on the street. I didn’t know what to expect from him and that was the worst. I could tell Chung Ae and Ga In that he’s my boyfriend but if he accused me of lying, then I’d be in a bigger mess than before. So what should I do? Tell the truth or use Baekhyun?

I tousled my hair in frustration, ignoring the surprised glances I received. Thinking about all of my problems was beginning to give me a headache. Was there even an optimal solution in this horrible situation? Preferably a choice which could help me survive my next three years here without consequences? For the first time, I wanted to move houses and change schools and leave everything here behind. Too bad my parents had plans to stay here for good.

* * * * *

I carefully entered the cafeteria, looking warily for Ga In and Chung Ae. Avoiding them all day could only work for so long, so I managed to muster some